German Sample Research Articles

Acceptance and Fear of Artificial Intelligence: associations with personality in a German and a Chinese sample

Understanding individual differences in attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence (AI) is of importance, among others in system development. Against this background, we sought to investigate associations between personality and attitudes towards AI. Relations were investigated in samples from two countries—Germany and China—to find potentially replicable, cross-culturally applicable associations. In German (N = 367, n = 137 men) and Chinese (N = 879; n = 220 men) online surveys, participants completed items on sociodemographic variables, the Attitudes Towards Artificial Intelligence (ATAI) scale, and the Big Five Inventory. Correlational analysis revealed among others significant positive associations between Neuroticism and fear of AI in both samples, with similar effect sizes. In addition to a significant association of acceptance of AI with gender, regression analyses revealed a small but significant positive association between Neuroticism and fear of AI in the German sample. In the Chinese sample, regression analyses showed positive associations of acceptance of AI with age, Openness, and Agreeableness. Fear of AI was only significantly negatively related to Agreeableness in the Chinese sample. The association of fear of AI with Neuroticism just failed to be significant in the regression model in the Chinese sample. These results reveal important insights into associations between certain personality traits and attitudes towards AI. However, given mostly small effect sizes of relations between personality and attitudes towards AI, other factors aside from personality traits seem to be of relevance to explain variance in individuals’ attitudes towards AI, as well.

The rejection and acceptance of Muslim minority practices: A person-centered approach

In Western societies, generalized prejudice and anti-Muslim sentiments can be major drivers of the rejection of Muslim religious practices. However, people can also reject such practices for other reasons, such as concerns about civil liberties or the secular nature of the state. With national samples of German and Dutch majority members ( N = 3,703), we used a multiple-acts-multiple-actors design to simultaneously examine attitudes toward four religious practices of three religious groups. Latent profile analysis revealed a subgroup of people that used a double standard and more strongly rejected Muslims than Christians and Jews engaging in the same practices (discriminatory rejection, 16.3%). However, four other subgroups responded to the practices independently of religious group (equal acceptance, 18.3%; equally moderate, 35%; equal rejection, 17.3%; and partial equal rejection, 13.1%). The five subgroups differ on key psychological correlates and self-reported reasons for rejection. We conclude that a multiple-acts-multiple-actors design provides a more nuanced understanding of how majority members evaluate Muslim minority practices in Western nations.

Acceptance of in-store apps: factors that influence the intention to adopt location-based retail apps – insights from Germany

PurposeDue to recent developments of indoor location-tracking technologies, brick-and-mortar retailers are now able to add location-based marketing capabilities to their existing retail apps, providing retailers with new opportunities to interact with customers inside of their stores. The aim of this study is to identify factors influencing the customers' adoption intention of location-based retail apps for stationary retailing.Design/methodology/approachBased on the technology acceptance model, a conceptual model was developed. A Web-based survey was conducted in Germany with a final sample of 501 cases. Structural equation modelling was performed to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results confirmed the positive relationship between attitude and the customers' intention to use location-based retail apps. Perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment promote a positive attitude toward location-based retail apps, while privacy concerns and fear of spam hinder the formation of a favorable attitude. Subjective norms have a positive effect on customers' usage intention.Practical implicationsThe results help retailers who want to establish location-based retail apps at the point of sale (e.g. in the context of omni-channel strategies).Originality/valueAs previous research about location-based apps has mainly used empirical data from either Chinese or American samples, less is known about the perception of European customers. Research indicates that existing findings might not be transferable to European countries due to differences in values, social norms or regulations. Also, the failure of Shopkick in Germany illustrates the need for more research. Based on this, using a German sample to answer the research question, this study aims to provide a European perspective on location-based retail apps, and thereby extend existing research.

German Laypeople's Willingness to Donate Toward Insect Conservation: Application of an Extended Protection Motivation Theory.

It is essential to engage the public in conservation measures to conserve insects. We investigate the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), as well as knowledge, attitudes, and sociodemographic variables (gender, age, education level, and income) as predictors of willingness to donate (WTD) and actual donations to insect conservation for a representative German sample (N = 515; MAge = 49.36, SD = 16.73; female = 50.1%). The PMT subcomponents severity, self-efficacy, and response efficacy, as well as attitudes toward insects, income, and education level, significantly predicted WTD. In contrast, severity, response barriers, age, gender, and the WTD significantly influenced actual donations. Overall, components of the PMT have high predictive power for both dependent variables. Our results suggest that an intention-behavior gap exists between the intention to donate and the actual donation toward insect conservation. Measures to increase WTD and actual donations for insect conservation are discussed.

Emotions and emotion up-regulation during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany

In stressful situations such as the COVID-19-pandemic, unpleasant emotions are expected to increase while pleasant emotions will likely decrease. Little is known about the role cognitive appraisals, information management, and upregulating pleasant emotions can play to support emotion regulation in a pandemic. In an online survey (N = 1682), we investigated predictors of changes in pleasant and unpleasant emotions in a German sample (aged 18–88 years) shortly after the first restrictions were imposed. Crisis self-efficacy and felt restriction were predictors of changes in unpleasant emotions and joy alike. The application of emotion up-regulation strategies was weakly associated with changes in joy. Among the different upregulation strategies, only “savouring the moment” predicted changes in joy. Our study informs future research perspectives assessing the role of upregulating pleasant emotions under challenging circumstances.

The effect of the financial crisis on audit quality: European evidence

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the impact of the recent financial crisis on audit quality by analysing discretionary accruals.Design/methodology/approachThis study considers a sample of German, French, Italian and Spanish non-financial firms from 2005 to 2013 to investigate the auditor’s independence. It uses a cross-sectional and time-series ordinary least squares regression model to control for other predictors of the auditor’s independence when the financial crisis produces a decrease in audit quality.FindingsThe proportion of the non-financial firms having lower audit quality was higher during the financial crisis. In addition, during the crisis auditors were less likely to provide a higher audit quality for these non-financial firms. The level of audit quality returned to normal levels during the post-crisis years when the crisis had ceased.Originality/valueThese findings contribute to the literature on the impact of economic and financial changes on audit quality. In addition, this research finds that the Big Four accounting firms provide a higher audit quality in different circumstances from non-Big Four accounting firms, and that audit quality decreased during the crisis and returned to normal in the post-crisis period.

Supplemental Material for The Elemental Psychopathy Assessment (EPA): Factor Structure and Construct Validity Across Three German Samples

Supplemental Material for The Elemental Psychopathy Assessment (EPA): Factor Structure and Construct Validity Across Three German Samples

Feeling Capable in an Ubuntu Way: Kenyan Comprehensions of Control Beliefs Compared with the German Perspective

Abstract In Western personnel psychology, control beliefs are a valued predictor for work-related outcomes. Yet, little is known about the culture-specific functioning of control in East Africa. Kenya, as an Ubuntu culture, is examined regarding control beliefs and contrasted with a German sample considered to represent an individualistic or Western culture. Responses to N=143 quantitative personality tests were attended with qualitative interviews on control beliefs (self-concept of ability, internality, powerful others, and chance). Content validity and factor structure of control beliefs were analyzed, followed by a Procrustean target rotation. Linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the predictability of job performance, achievement motivation, and well-being. Item comprehension, as well as factor structure of the four control aspects, differ between the two samples. In particular, the ‘powerful others’ control aspect diverges the most between the cultures. Linear regression analyses showed comparable, but not fully congruent predictability. Results indicate that an uncritical transfer of the control beliefs measure from one culture to another is inappropriate. Results fit in the picture of African Ubuntu philosophy, emphasizing social-relational aspects shaping control beliefs. More emic-etic based research is demanded concerning intra- and intercultural variability of control beliefs to depict a transcultural applicable and invariant model.

Associations of Different Types of Child Maltreatment and Diabetes in Adulthood – The Mediating Effect of Personality Functioning: Findings from a Population-Based Representative German Sample

Associations of Different Types of Child Maltreatment and Diabetes in Adulthood – The Mediating Effect of Personality Functioning: Findings from a Population-Based Representative German Sample

“Migrant Children Are Not the Problem. The Problem Is the Need to Make the Administration Happy.” The Perceptions of Professionals’ on Participation and Acculturation in Education Contexts

Children are individuals capable of expressing their wishes and needs, making decisions and taking action in order to influence their own living situation and contribute to social life. Furthermore, children’s participation is essential to their development, learning and well-being, and particularly crucial to the integration of migrant children. Accordingly, societal and scientific discourses emphasize the need for the participation of children, including as a substantial element of integration processes. However, research shows a tension between theoretical discussions and concepts, on the one hand, and practices in educational settings on the other. Educational contexts vary in their conceptualizations of children’s agency and participation, as well as the degree to which they provide opportunities for participation or rather set restrictions upon it. To illuminate this dependency on respective educational settings in more detail, data from the German sample of the first phase of the CHILD-UP research and innovation project were used to explore two research questions. First, potential differences in perceptions and understanding of children’s participation were investigated by surveying four groups of professionals, namely teachers, educators in early childhood care, after-school educators and social workers. Second, the analyses explored potential associations between intercultural aspects, integration and participation among the four groups of professionals. Overall, the results showed that children’s participation is emphasized and supported in each of the examined educational settings, but also reveals differences according to school. More specifically, schoolteachers were more reserved about participation than the other groups of professionals. Moreover, although all professionals emphasized migrant children’s integration, a stronger emphasis on assimilation was observed for teachers, which could be explained by structural and normative conditions in the educational setting of school. The results point to the need for a further examination of these differences by focusing on the interplay between the normative requirements, structural conditions, institutional tasks, as well as professional attitudes of different professions in education. Accordingly, relational approaches to the concept of children’s agency are applied to discuss whether and how relational conceptualizations of participation can overcome an essentialist perspective on children’s participation and may perhaps shed light on the interconnection between participation and integration according to the institutional character of different educational settings.

Later Life Workplace Index: Validation of an English Version

AbstractResearch on measures for organizational practices targeted toward older employees has grown during the past decade. However, existing measures tend to capture the construct with unidimensional scales, use single-item operationalizations, or focus on specific domains. Thus, the Later Life Workplace Index (LLWI) was developed to serve as a multidimensional framework for measuring organizational practices for the aging workforce. The LLWI covers 9 domains, namely organizational climate, leadership, work design, health management, individual development, knowledge management, transition to retirement, continued employment after retirement, and health and retirement coverage. The index has recently been operationalized and validated in Germany. Given that the quantitative evidence for the framework is limited to Germany so far, we aimed to translate and validate an English version of the LLWI using a sample of older U.S. employees (N = 279). Findings regarding the psychometric properties of the measure are presented, supporting the domain level factor structure through confirmatory factor analyses, but revealing some redundancy among the items for the overall 9 domain factor structure. Multigroup factor analyses comparing the U.S. sample to a German sample (N = 349) further confirmed configural and (partial) metric measurement invariance of the English version of the LLWI. Results also supported convergent and discriminant validity as well as criterion and incremental validity regarding individual level attitudinal, health-related, intention, and behavioral outcomes. Based on these findings, implications for the use of the LLWI in research and practice and future research directions are discussed.

Organizational Practices for the Aging Workforce: Validation of an English Version of the Later Life Workplace Index

Due to aging workforces, research on organizational practices for older employees becomes more important for individuals and organizations. However, existing measures for such organizational practices tend to capture the construct with unidimensional scales, use single-item operationalizations, or focus on a specific area. Hence, Wöhrmann, Deller, and Pundt (2018) developed the Later Life Workplace Index (LLWI) to provide a multidimensional framework to measure organizational practices for older employees on nine dimensions, namely organizational climate, leadership, work design, health management, individual development, knowledge management, transition to retirement, continued employment after retirement, and health and retirement coverage. The LLWI has recently been operationalized and validated in Germany (Wilckens, Wöhrmann, Deller, & Wang, 2020). However, to utilize the index beyond German-speaking countries, a validated English version is required. Thus, we aimed to validate an English version of the LLWI using a sample of older U.S. employees (N = 279). Results support the domain level factor structure of the LLWI but show some redundancy among the 80 items for the overall nine domain factor structure. A comparison between the U.S. sample and a German sample (N = 349) confirmed configural and (partial) metric measurement invariance of the English version. Results further supported convergent, discriminant, criterion, as well as incremental validity. Researchers can utilize the new measure to gain a deeper understanding of organizational practices relevant for older employees, while practitioners are able to assess their organizational readiness for an aging workforce. We envision further translation and validation in other languages and cultural contexts.

Gender-Sensitive Depression Screening (GSDS) - Further Validation of a New Self-Rating Instrument

To check the validity of the preliminary results with the Gender-Sensitive Depression Screening (GSDS) in two German samples of non-psychiatric outpatients. The psychometric validation of the GSDS-33 was performed in a sample of non-psychiatric outpatients of different clinics belonging to the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich (n = 958) and in a male non-psychiatric sample of the Men's Health Center in Berlin (n = 237). Findings of the first validation study of the GSDS (Möller-Leimkühler, Mühleck 2020) were largely confirmed. The data also confirmed the factors 'aggressiveness' and 'emotional control' as important components of an increasing depression risk. Compared to a standard screening the GSDS again identified more risk cases among men in the two samples (8 % and 18 %). The GSDS-25 is a multidimensional, valid and reliable scale for better identifying men with a risk of depression.

Exploring risk culture controls: to what extent can the development of organizational risk culture be controlled and how?

PurposeThis study aims to explore the controllability of risk culture, identify and categorize risk culture controls used in firms and explore how industry and ownership structure affect the use of different risk culture controls.Design/methodology/approachThis explorative study is based on 32 semi-structured interviews with 37 participants who are heads of risk management or top managers in German firms from different industries with different ownership structures.FindingsInterviewees perceive risk culture to be largely controllable. The authors identify a wide spectrum of risk culture controls, ranging from leadership and motivational controls to risk competence controls; in each category, the authors find value-, symbol- and clan-based controls. Leadership controls were most extensively discussed by the interviewees. The use of risk culture controls varied based on industry and ownership structure.Research limitations/implicationsDue to the explorative character of the approach, the authors cannot claim representativeness for the results. The study is limited to one point in time and to a German sample. The findings imply that companies should select risk culture controls according to their own context and that implementation requires support by the top and middle management.Originality/valueThe authors respond to the call for more organizational studies on risk management that consider cultural paradigms (Arena et al., 2010; Mikes, 2011; Power, 2009). The study systematically identifies risk culture controls used in corporate practice and categorizes them. It provides tentative evidence of the relevance of context-specific factors for the use of risk culture controls.

Lost in Translation or Just Too Pragmatic?

Abstract. The Broader Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ) is a measure to assess a set of personality and language characteristics reflecting the phenotypic expression of autistic traits in neurotypically developing individuals. This paper aims to evaluate the newly developed German version of the BAPQ (BAPQ-G) in terms of its factorial validity. We performed confirmatory factor analyses and correlations with other measures of the broader autism phenotype on three German samples ( N1 = 248, N2 = 289, N3 = 255). Associations with other constructs are in line with the assumptions, yet the anticipated factor structure of the BAPQ-G did not meet the cutoff criteria. These results are discussed along with recent findings regarding other cultural versions of the BAPQ.

Inflammation biomarkers for future development of all‐cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and vascular dementia

AbstractBackgroundInflammation is one of the key mechanisms involved in the development and progression of dementia. However, not all details on the association between inflammation and dementia have been explored yet. Inflammatory biomarkers can be measured at an early stage of dementia and thus can contribute to an early diagnosis. Besides, these biomarkers could contribute to drug development or therapeutic strategies.MethodBiomarkers from the Olink Proseek® Inflammation panel were analyzed in blood samples of a longitudinal German, population‐based cohort including 1782 older adults. Logistic regression models were used to identify associations of these biomarkers with all‐cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VD) incidence. Strongly associated biomarkers were further analyzed in subgroup and sensitivity analyses for dementia risk factors like age, diabetes, and APOE ε4 polymorphism. Moreover, clusters including highly correlated biomarkers (r > 0.5) were built based on these biomarkers.ResultDuring 17 years of follow‐up, 504 participants were diagnosed with dementia, including 163 AD and 195 VD cases. A total number of 56 biomarkers showed a significant association with all‐cause dementia, 22 biomarkers were significantly associated with AD, and 33 with VD incidence, even after correction for multiple testing. The strongest, independent associations were found for the biomarkers CX3CL1 (OR [95% CI] per 1 standard deviation (SD): 1.41 [1.24‐1.60]) and EN‐RAGE (1.41 [1.25‐1.60]) with all‐cause dementia incidence, EN‐RAGE (1.51 [1.25‐1.83]) and LAP TGF‐beta‐1 (1.46 [1.21‐1.76]) with AD incidence, and VEGF‐A (1.43 [1.20‐1.70]) with VD incidence.ConclusionThis study was the first to assess the associations of blood‐based biomarkers from the Olink Proseek® Inflammation panel with all‐cause dementia, AD, and VD incidence in a large, prospective, population‐based cohort study. The biomarkers CX3CL1, EN‐RAGE, LAP TGF‐beta‐1, and VEGF‐A, were independently associated with different forms of dementia and have great potential as predictive biomarkers.

How can learning effects be measured in Balint groups? Validation of a Balint group questionnaire in China

BackgroundBalint groups aim to reflect doctor-patient relationships on the basis of personal cases. This study reports the validation of a questionnaire aimed at the identification of learning processes among Balint group participants in China.MethodsThis multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted during Balint group sessions in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai. A heterogeneous sample of different professional groups was intended to adequately capture the reality of Balint work in China. After a Balint group session, the participants were asked to complete the Mandarin version of the Balint group session questionnaire (BGQ-C) and the group questionnaire (GQ), an internationally validated instrument to assess central dimensions of therapeutic relationships during group processes.ResultsQuestionnaires from n = 806 participants from 55 Chinese Balint groups, predominantly comprising individuals with a medical background, were analyzed. Most participants were female (74.6%), and the average age was 34.2 years old (SD = 9.4). The results indicated good to very good reliability (Cronbach’s α = .70 to .86; retest rs = .430 to .697). The verification of the construct validity of the BGQ-C showed satisfying convergent (rs = .465 to .574) and discriminant validity (rs = -.117 to -.209). The model was tested with a confirmatory factor analysis of a three-factor model (standardized root mean square residual = .025; comparative fit index = .977; Tucker-Lewis index = .971). The 3 empirically identified scales resulted in good model fit with the theoretical dimensions of Balint work postulated in the literature: “reflection of transference dynamics in the doctor-patient relationship”, “emotional and cognitive learning” and “case mirroring in the dynamic of the group”. Due to the high correlations between the factors, a single-factor model was possible. A group comparison between the German and Chinese samples showed different loadings across cultures.ConclusionsThe BGQ-C is a quick-to-complete, item-based measuring instrument that allows the relevant dimensions of Balint group work to be recorded. This study suggests good psychometric properties of the Chinese version. Nevertheless, it must be assumed that the composition of constructs in the two countries is different.

Biografische Vorbelastungen und verhaltensbasierte Indikatoren der Radikalisierung im Vorfeld islamistischer Gewalt

Using a German sample of convicted perpetrators (N = 76), the authors compare the biographical characteristics and preoffence warning behaviours of non-violent Islamist activists (n = 60) with those of Islamist assassins (n = 16). While the biographical characteristics focus on the socio-structural, familial and social stressors of the convicted in addition to age and education, the exploration of warning behaviour focuses on potentially observable patterns of action associated with radicalisation processes or serious targeted acts of violence. The data basis is formed by indictments and verdicts in corresponding criminal proceedings. A standardised instrument for quantitative file analysis in the context of murder and manslaughter offences was used to identify biographical characteristics and previous social burdens (Göbel et al., 2016). The Screener Islamism (Böckler et al., 2017) was used to examine early behaviour-based radicalisation indicators and the Warning Behaviour Typology (Meloy et al., 2012) was used to identify violence-associated behaviour patterns. While all Islamist offenders committed their crimes in early adulthood and had various social backgrounds in their biographies, Islamist activists and violent offenders differed significantly in the warning behaviour they displayed before committing an offence. In particular, acts of planning and preparation (pathway to violence), new forms of aggression (novel aggression), and patterns of action that indicate that the person feels he or she is at a biographical dead end (last resort) were able to differentiate between attackers and non-attackers. The results are particularly relevant from a preventive perspective, as they can be the basis for improving behaviour-based early detection of violence associated radicalisation processes in social institutions.

Which financial stressors are linked to food insecurity among older adults in the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands? An exploratory study

Food insecurity among adults age 65 and older is a growing public policy concern in European countries, but the extent of the problem and the related financial stressors are unclear. The purpose of this paper is to measure the percent of food insecure individuals in a targeted sample of financially fragile older adults, and to identify associated financial stressors and socio-economic characteristics. This exploratory study is based on an online survey of 1,059 older adults experiencing financial hardship. Participants were recruited through commercial consumer panels in the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands. The proportion of financially fragile older adults reporting food insecurity ranged from 24% in the British sample, 29% in the German sample, and 35% in the Dutch sample. We identified financial stressors that contributed to food insecurity in each country sample. Having more financial stressors increased the risk of food insecurity, which was similar in each country. Within and across country samples, food insecurity is associated with financial stressors. Insights for policy makers, consumer advocates, and social services point to the value of integrating financial and food-related support services, the potential for cross-country collaboration, and efforts that take into account the particular financial circumstances of older adults.

Perseverative Thinking about Suicide Questionnaire (PTSQ): Validation of a new measure to assess suicide-specific rumination

BackgroundSuicide-specific rumination has been shown to be associated with lifetime suicide attempts as well as suicide intent and might be an important risk factor for the transition from suicidal ideation to suicidal behavior. Based on this background, the wording of the items of an often-used self-report measure assessing core characteristics of rumination was adapted to assess specifically suicide-specific rumination. MethodsThe entire study sample comprised N = 1689 participants from the German healthcare sector. A total of 721 participants with a history of suicidal ideation (68% female; Mage = 30.63, SDage = 8.41, range: 18–81 years) who had completed five measures assessing suicide-specific rumination, suicidal ideation, depression, hopelessness, and resilience were included for the present examination. Factorial validity (Exploratory [EFA] to determine the appropriate number of factors and confirmatory factor analyses [CFA] after randomly splitting of the sample to validate the EFA solution), construct validity, and reliability were evaluated. ResultsThe EFA revealed a one-factor solution consisting of four items, which could be confirmed within a CFA (RMSR = 0.006; RMSEA = 0.039; CFI = 0.999; TLI = 0.998). Internal consistency was excellent with Cronbachs α = 0.93. Construct validity was given with moderate to high positive correlations with suicidal ideation (0.76), depression (0.55), and hopelessness (0.38) and negative correlation with resilience (−0.31). Participants with recent suicidal ideation and/or lifetime suicide attempt reported significantly more suicide-specific rumination than those with only lifetime suicidal ideation. ConclusionA new 4-item measure for suicide-specific rumination was developed and could be shown to be a reliable and valid instrument in a large German sample. Results emphasize the potential importance of suicide-specific rumination for the understanding of trajectories of suicidal ideation and suicide risk assessments.